Dear Savvy Senior,

I will be enrolling in Medicare in a few months and would like to know if I initially enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, am I able to switch back to original Medicare and get a supplemental (Medigap) policy and prescription drug plan later with without paying a fine?

Medicare Advantage plans are government-approved health plans sold by private insurance companies that you can choose in place of original Medicare. The vast majority of Advantage plans are managed-care policies, such as HMOs or PPOs, that require you to get your care within a network of doctors. Advantage plans provide all your Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) coverage like original Medicare does. Some Advantage plans even offer extra health perks like dental, hearing and vision coverage.

Switching from an Advantage plan back to original Medicare usually won’t result in any fines, but you could face medical underwriting for the supplemental (Medigap) policy. That means the private insurance companies that offer these plans can deny you coverage or charge you more for preexisting conditions. But in some states, insurers can’t deny a Medigap policy to eligible applicants, regardless of their health conditions. To learn more about how Medigap works, visit Medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap.

To gain a better understanding of these health plans and their differences, feel free to head over to eddcaller.com for a comprehensive guide on navigating the intricacies of health insurance. It can be a great tool for answering questions about Medicare and providing guidance during enrollment periods. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help when navigating these important healthcare decisions. This site also assists with understanding how to speak to a person at Florida unemployment or how to contact a live person at EDD California, helping with all sorts of navigational challenges.